Engine compartment cooling system

ABSTRACT

In combination with an engine compartment including an engine, a hood, and at least two front quarter panel side walls defining an interior engine compartment, an engine compartment cooling system includes a clear hole made in at least one of the side walls positioned between a passenger compartment and a forward portion of a fender wheel well. At least one axial fan assembly has a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor shaft, and a fan motor. The fan assembly is mounted in the clear hole. A fan motor controller is connected to the fan motor, and a heated air flow path, which originates from the engine, is exhausted outwardly through the fan assembly into an ambient air flow for cooling of the engine compartment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e), applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/283,941, filed, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 111(b), on Dec. 11, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to engine compartment cooling systems. In particular, it relates to an axial fan operated system for exhausting hot air from the interior of an engine compartment through the quarter panel of a motor vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Systems for cooling the engine of a motor vehicle are well known in the art. Engine compartments have long since been equipped with a heat exchanger, such as a radiator, and fan assembly for cooling a liquid circulating through the engine block and heat exchanger of the motor vehicle. However, auxiliary systems are desirably in order to either supplement or to enhance engine cooling during operation under hot or heavy load conditions.

One such example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,175 to Carroll. There, a cooling air system for an internal combustion engine has an engine enclosure and a plenum connected to the engine enclosure. A radial flow fan is disposed in the plenum. An inlet duct in the engine compartment directs drawn outside ambient air toward a radiator located within the engine compartment. A shroud extending into the plenum directs air flow passing through the radiator axially toward the radial flow fan. An outlet opening at the top end of the plenum exhausts radially directed heated air flow elevationally to the atmosphere.

While the foregoing systems offer some utility, a major disadvantage in such systems lies in the fact that they are complicated in construction, often require unsightly design changes to the engine compartment, are costly in construction, and circulate ambient air from the outside of the vehicle through the engine compartment. Thus, what is needed is an engine compartment cooling system which is simple in construction and which is capable of retrofit application with an existing engine compartment construction. It is also needed to provide a supplemental engine cooling system which is easy to install and operate, light in weight and which exhausts engine heat generated by the engine through a fender well of the motor vehicle. The present invention satisfies these needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an engine compartment cooling system which exhausts engine heat through a fender well of a motor vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine compartment cooling system which is easily installed for retrofit application, on an existing quarter panel, of a motor vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine compartment cooling system which is light in weight, low in cost, and easily operated either manually from the interior of a passenger compartment or thermostatically.

To overcome the problems of the prior art methods and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, briefly in combination with an engine compartment including an engine, a hood, and at least two front quarter panel side walls defining an interior engine compartment, an engine compartment cooling system includes a clear hole made in at least one of the side walls positioned between a passenger compartment and a forward portion of a fender wheel well. At least one axial fan assembly has a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor shaft, and a fan motor. The fan assembly is mounted in the clear hole. A fan motor controller is connected to the fan motor, and a heated air flow path, which originates from the engine, is exhausted outwardly through the fan assembly into an ambient air flow for cooling of the engine compartment.

Additional advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious from that description or can be learned from practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by the apparatus particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of the specification illustrate at least one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention when mounted on the quarter panel of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention when mounted on the quarter panel of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention with another embodiment of the exhaust shutter when mounted on the quarter panel of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the exhaust shutter assembly shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Although any of the methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals represent like features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing figures, the preferred embodiment of the An engine compartment cooling system is provided. The engine compartment includes an engine 22, a hood, and at least two front quarter panel side walls 24 which define an interior engine compartment 20. Such engine compartments are of a configuration which is well known in the diesel tractor and automotive industry as well known in the art. A clear hole, such as a rectangular opening, is positioned in at least one of the side walls 24, preferably between the passenger compartment 26 and a forward portion 28 of a fender wheel well. The clear hole is desirably positioned high enough in relation to the engine 22 so that the heated air flow 2 originating from the engine 22 travels upwardly and outwardly. A fan housing assembly 10 is mounted adjacent to the clear hole and defines a hot air inlet from the interior of the engine compartment and an outlet which exhausts the hot air outwardly to ambient. A heated air flow path 2 originates at the engine 22, heating the engine compartment interior 20, while operating under heavy loads, and extends outwardly to exhaust into the ambient air through the clear hole. At least one axial fan assembly 10 is mounted to a fan housing 16. The fan housing 16 is fitted within the quarter panel 24 in the clear hole. The fan is of a design which is well known as an axial fan and includes a plurality of fan blades 12, a motor shaft 14 and a fan motor. The fan assembly 10 is mounted in the housing 16 so that the air flow path 2 is exhausted in a direction which is travels along a path relative to the motor shaft 14. The fan motor is wired to any direct-current power source of the motor vehicle which is well known in the art.

The fan motor is preferably manually operated by motor controller, such as a toggle or rheostat switch 28, positioned within the interior of the passenger compartment 26, such as on a dashboard, but, may, also be thermostatically operated using a signal received from a sensor 30 desirably positioned within the interior of the engine compartment 20. In the preferred embodiment, the fan housing 16 is a rectangular shaped frame and is thereby configured to receive at least two axial fans and fan motor assemblies. It is also desirable to include an air flow exhaust shutter 13 assembly connected to the housing 16 so that the air flow path 2 is variably restricted from control of temperature within the interior engine compartment 20. The exhaust shutter 13 is desirably an air flow baffle which pivots either vertically or horizontally in relation to the housing 16. The shutter 13 may be either manually operated from the passenger compartment 26, or thermostatically operated as a result of engine temperature, or both.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air flow exhaust shutter 17 slides freely, forward and rearward, within a channeled, generally rectangular, frame member 15. The exhaust shutter 17 is preferably produced from an aluminum or fiberglass sheeting, painted, and operates in an open position so as to allow the airflow to exhaust from the engine compartment 20 for cooling, or in a closed position, under colder operating conditions, so that the engine compartment retains heat and the fan blades 12 do not engage in an autorotation when exposed to ambient air while travelling. The channeled frame member 15 is a metal frame having flanged portions for slidably receiving the exhaust shutter 17, and mounting to the quarter panel with a threaded fastener or rivet. The frame member 15 is rigidity fastened to an outer wall of the quarter panel 24. In use, one simply slides the exhaust shutter 17 in a predetermined forward or rearward alignment, with respect to the fan assembly 10, for optimum temperature control of the engine compartment. The exhaust shutter 17 may also, but need not, include a motor drive and control (not shown) for manually or thermostatically operating the exhaust shutter 17 in a forward or rearward direction.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiments as described and illustrated above, it will be appreciated and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made in the cooling system assembly, in accordance with the present invention, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as described and claimed herein. 

1. In combination with an engine compartment having an engine, a hood, and at least two front quarter panel side walls defining an interior engine compartment, an engine compartment cooling system, comprises: (a) a clear hole in at least one of the side walls positioned between a passenger compartment and a forward portion of a fender wheel well; (b) at least one axial fan assembly having a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor shaft, and a fan motor, the fan assembly mounted in the clear hole; (c) a fan motor controller connected to the fan motor; and (d) a heated air flow path which originates from the engine and is exhausted outwardly through the fan assembly into an ambient air flow for cooling of the engine compartment.
 2. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the motor controller is manually operated from an interior of the passenger compartment.
 3. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the motor controller is thermostatically operated.
 4. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the fan assembly includes at least two fans and fan motors.
 5. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust shutter connected to the housing so that the air flow path is variably restricted.
 6. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 5, wherein the exhaust shutter is manually operated.
 7. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 5, wherein the exhaust shutter is thermostatically operated.
 8. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 5, further including a channeled exhaust shutter frame connected to an outer surface of the quarter panel in horizontal alignment with the fan assembly, having a top, bottom and side flanged walls and wherein the exhaust shutter is a panel slidably received in the flanged walls of the shutter frame.
 9. The engine compartment cooling system according to claim 5 wherein the exhaust shutter is plurality of baffles so that the air flow is variably restricted when operating the baffles inwardly.
 10. In combination with an engine compartment having an engine, a hood, and at least two front quarter panel side walls defining an interior engine compartment, a method for cooling the engine compartment, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a clear hole in at least one of the side walls positioned between a passenger compartment and a forward portion of a fender wheel well; (b) providing at least one axial fan assembly having a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor shaft, and a fan motor, the fan assembly mounted in the clear hole; (c) providing a fan motor controller connected to the fan motor; (d) generating a heated air flow path from the engine into the engine compartment; (e) operating the fan motor with the fan motor controller; and (f) exhausting the heated air flow path outwardly from the engine compartment through the fan assembly into an ambient air flow.
 11. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 10, wherein the fan motor controller is manually operated from an interior of the passenger compartment.
 12. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 10, wherein the fan motor controller is thermostatically operated.
 13. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 10, wherein the fan housing is configured to include at least two axial fans.
 14. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of providing an exhaust shutter assembly and connecting the exhaust shutter assembly to the housing so that the air flow path is variably restricted.
 15. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust shutter is manually operated.
 16. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust shutter is thermostatically operated.
 17. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of providing a channeled frame member including a top, bottom and side flanged walls and connecting the channeled frame member to at least one of the quarter panels in alignment with the fan assembly and wherein the exhaust shutter is a panel slidably received in the channeled frame member, and sliding the panel horizontally in the channeled frame member so that the air flow is variably restricted.
 18. The method for cooling an engine compartment according to claim 14, wherein the exhaust shutter is plurality of baffles and closing the baffles so that the air flow is variably restricted. 